The best Shrimp & Grits you will ever have. All of the food is delicious and thoughtfully prepared. Their deserts are freshly made in house and an absolute must try! Great atmosphere and great staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pamlico Paella, Kalbi Steak, Fish N Chips, Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Steak
AuntieS
Outstanding meal and service in a lovely dining room. One of our favorites...we only have 2 on Hatteras Island. Last night we both had clam chowder and shrimp and grits, both wonderful. Our waiter was attentive and very personable—a pleasure. I had key lime pie, very good, and my DH had Hummingbird cake for the first time. It was very good but way to much richness after such fine and filling precursors. So sad they're closing for the rest of our stay this trip or we would have returned at leased once more with our arriving guests. We'll be back next year.
DougLin
We go here every year. The only restaurant in the OBX with ambience. The food is presented well. Nice variety of choices. It was annoyingly noisy due to the patrons present. The waiter was excellent.
VernonW
Short staffed, bar was closed except for wine or beer. Wine was old. Food was not to our liking. Food was overpriced for what it was. Man who welcomed us seated us, and took our order was very nice. He was wearing MANY hats to make up for the short staff. He did a great job! We will not recommend nor return to this restaurant. Truly a disappointing dinner.
PattyB
I was really looking forward to trying Rusty's. I know he had a lot of issues with the pandemic. We vacation in Rodanthe OBX every September. I took my husband there for his birthday. The food and service was good, but we couldn't have been seated at a worse table. Right by the kitchen doors, that every time they opened I thought I would get hit. And just the abrupt noise of the doors. And, even though it wAs the exact day of my husbands birthday, he wasn't even given a small bowl of ice ream or a cupcake...why ask if you are celebrating a special occasion if it doesn't really matter. Some of the desserts posted were already gone, they open at 5:00, our reservation was at 6:00. How can they already be out of desserts? Meal and service was good, but probably not returning as it's a 30 min drive from Rodanthe. I was truly hoping to write a great review. Thank you, Patty Brewer
K3870RKalexk
The food was really good. My wife had the shrimp linguine and I was delighted their fresh fish of the day was fried mullet. Very generous portions. We had the Mahi Mahi bites for an appetizer and they were superb The home made key lime pie was a delightful end to our meal.
RodH
We had mahi mahi and NY strip. Both were perfect. Kelly was our server and did a great job recommending items after our first choices We're not available. She suggested we also try the fresh made butter pecan cake with bacon jam. Yep that's what I said too. It was amazing. I should have gotten a decaf coffee to go with it. The music was a bit loud and fast beat for our taste, felt like we should hurry to eat and leave but we didn't LOL. We will go back!
Tasha Belle
We wanted to try this restaurant on our last night in Cali. The food was absolutely fantastic and the service was quick and efficient. They had karaoke and we spent a good portion of our time singing to the top of our lungs to most every song. ?We were sitting outside on the deck and this homeless junkie apparently zoned in and wanted some of Jordan’s food and came after it to include the knife. ? Thankfully he dropped the knife and just took the food.We want to say a huge thank you to the manager of Rusty's Surf & Turf for quick action in getting the guy away from our table and for trying to make it up to us.If your ever in the Santa Monica area, please go visit this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Corie Aranyos
Amazing! Came here two separate nights in the same week! Love Kelli! She was awesome, the food is amazing. First night got the shrimp and tuna steak, second time got the khalbi steak and the lemon chicken!! Fabulous. Oh not to mention the desserts are homeade by the bar tender! Carrot cake was killer!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kalbi Steak
laken bartlett
Not the place to go if you’re looking for a lot of food options or good service. 4 of us went, we had an incredibly rude waitress, we ordered hushpuppies as an appetizer, cold and gross. They were out of most of the seafood options. They were out of most of the beer we wanted, the food was overpriced and very small portions. It’s a run down unkept atmosphere but you had to have a reservation to eat there.The shrimp linguine was $30 and you could’ve made it for $10 and fed 6 people at home. And it included imitation crab. Yuck. We weren’t very pleased with anything we ordered, especially for the prices. Nothing special about this place at all. Save your money and go to diamond schoals or cockeyed clam.
Greeted at the door and shown to the bar area where we delicious appetizers and cocktails. Everything on the menu looked so good, its hard to choose. Everyone was friendly and welcoming from the owner to the servers. A must visit!
First time at Rusty's. Food was amazing. The place was packed with several large groups that made service slower than desired for tables of 2. It also made it very loud. We made reservations so I would recommend that as the host indicated they would turn walk ins away. They are on Open Table app. Again - the food was AMAZING.
PleasedPettys
We usually have outstanding service and great food, this last visit was 9/3 seemed over booked and under staffed. We made a 6:45 reservation, waited a bit to be seated at a table the bartender was serving. She did her best in between making drinks for the entire restaurant, but we had to wait until 8 pm for our dinner that was ordered at the same time as our appetizer. Our waitress gave us desserts to go for our inconvenience which was appreciated. Hoping for better service next visit!
VivianD
Our reservations were made for 730pm. And they had a very busy dinner hour and they were turning people away. At this point, the restaurant was out of sticky rice and scallops. Once we placed our order, we waited quite a while for our dinners. The shrimp were fantastic and large, pasta & pot pie was very good. Tuna was a little overdone. Key lime pie was amazing. The team there were very apologetic about the wait and menu. Definitely make reservations! It's a popular place!
CindyT
Food is very tasty. Often the salt content can be high, but the food was delicious. The manager accommodated a change in reservation time on a Friday night. I wouldn't have held it against them if they couldn't. Nice folks. Good food. Will visit again when vacationing in that area.
The best Shrimp & Grits you will ever have. All of the food is delicious and thoughtfully prepared. Their deserts are freshly made in house and an absolute must try! Great atmosphere and great staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pamlico Paella, Kalbi Steak, Fish N Chips, Low Country Shrimp & Grits, Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Steak
Outstanding meal and service in a lovely dining room. One of our favorites...we only have 2 on Hatteras Island. Last night we both had clam chowder and shrimp and grits, both wonderful. Our waiter was attentive and very personable—a pleasure. I had key lime pie, very good, and my DH had Hummingbird cake for the first time. It was very good but way to much richness after such fine and filling precursors. So sad they're closing for the rest of our stay this trip or we would have returned at leased once more with our arriving guests. We'll be back next year.
We go here every year. The only restaurant in the OBX with ambience. The food is presented well. Nice variety of choices. It was annoyingly noisy due to the patrons present. The waiter was excellent.
Short staffed, bar was closed except for wine or beer. Wine was old. Food was not to our liking. Food was overpriced for what it was. Man who welcomed us seated us, and took our order was very nice. He was wearing MANY hats to make up for the short staff. He did a great job! We will not recommend nor return to this restaurant. Truly a disappointing dinner.
I was really looking forward to trying Rusty's. I know he had a lot of issues with the pandemic. We vacation in Rodanthe OBX every September. I took my husband there for his birthday. The food and service was good, but we couldn't have been seated at a worse table. Right by the kitchen doors, that every time they opened I thought I would get hit. And just the abrupt noise of the doors. And, even though it wAs the exact day of my husbands birthday, he wasn't even given a small bowl of ice ream or a cupcake...why ask if you are celebrating a special occasion if it doesn't really matter. Some of the desserts posted were already gone, they open at 5:00, our reservation was at 6:00. How can they already be out of desserts? Meal and service was good, but probably not returning as it's a 30 min drive from Rodanthe. I was truly hoping to write a great review. Thank you, Patty Brewer
The food was really good. My wife had the shrimp linguine and I was delighted their fresh fish of the day was fried mullet. Very generous portions. We had the Mahi Mahi bites for an appetizer and they were superb The home made key lime pie was a delightful end to our meal.
We had mahi mahi and NY strip. Both were perfect. Kelly was our server and did a great job recommending items after our first choices We're not available. She suggested we also try the fresh made butter pecan cake with bacon jam. Yep that's what I said too. It was amazing. I should have gotten a decaf coffee to go with it. The music was a bit loud and fast beat for our taste, felt like we should hurry to eat and leave but we didn't LOL. We will go back!
We wanted to try this restaurant on our last night in Cali. The food was absolutely fantastic and the service was quick and efficient. They had karaoke and we spent a good portion of our time singing to the top of our lungs to most every song. ?We were sitting outside on the deck and this homeless junkie apparently zoned in and wanted some of Jordan’s food and came after it to include the knife. ? Thankfully he dropped the knife and just took the food.We want to say a huge thank you to the manager of Rusty's Surf & Turf for quick action in getting the guy away from our table and for trying to make it up to us.If your ever in the Santa Monica area, please go visit this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing! Came here two separate nights in the same week! Love Kelli! She was awesome, the food is amazing. First night got the shrimp and tuna steak, second time got the khalbi steak and the lemon chicken!! Fabulous. Oh not to mention the desserts are homeade by the bar tender! Carrot cake was killer!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kalbi Steak
Not the place to go if you’re looking for a lot of food options or good service. 4 of us went, we had an incredibly rude waitress, we ordered hushpuppies as an appetizer, cold and gross. They were out of most of the seafood options. They were out of most of the beer we wanted, the food was overpriced and very small portions. It’s a run down unkept atmosphere but you had to have a reservation to eat there.The shrimp linguine was $30 and you could’ve made it for $10 and fed 6 people at home. And it included imitation crab. Yuck. We weren’t very pleased with anything we ordered, especially for the prices. Nothing special about this place at all. Save your money and go to diamond schoals or cockeyed clam.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Greeted at the door and shown to the bar area where we delicious appetizers and cocktails. Everything on the menu looked so good, its hard to choose. Everyone was friendly and welcoming from the owner to the servers. A must visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hushpuppies, Cole Slaw, Sesame Seared Tuna
First time at Rusty's. Food was amazing. The place was packed with several large groups that made service slower than desired for tables of 2. It also made it very loud. We made reservations so I would recommend that as the host indicated they would turn walk ins away. They are on Open Table app. Again - the food was AMAZING.
We usually have outstanding service and great food, this last visit was 9/3 seemed over booked and under staffed. We made a 6:45 reservation, waited a bit to be seated at a table the bartender was serving. She did her best in between making drinks for the entire restaurant, but we had to wait until 8 pm for our dinner that was ordered at the same time as our appetizer. Our waitress gave us desserts to go for our inconvenience which was appreciated. Hoping for better service next visit!
Our reservations were made for 730pm. And they had a very busy dinner hour and they were turning people away. At this point, the restaurant was out of sticky rice and scallops. Once we placed our order, we waited quite a while for our dinners. The shrimp were fantastic and large, pasta & pot pie was very good. Tuna was a little overdone. Key lime pie was amazing. The team there were very apologetic about the wait and menu. Definitely make reservations! It's a popular place!
Food is very tasty. Often the salt content can be high, but the food was delicious. The manager accommodated a change in reservation time on a Friday night. I wouldn't have held it against them if they couldn't. Nice folks. Good food. Will visit again when vacationing in that area.